CHIETA and MICT SETA sign MOU to boost digital transformation

CHIETA and MICT SETA sign MOU to boost digital transformation

CHIETA, the Chemical Industrial Education & Training Authority, and MICT (Media, Information & Communication Technologies) SETA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last  week, to encourage greater cross-SETA collaboration on digital transformation initiatives.

Wezi Khoza, CHIETA Chairperson says, “Because the Fourth Industrial Revolution impacts a steadily growing portion of the chemical industries sector, it is becoming more imperative to stay ahead of the game and develop closer partnerships with organisations specialising in the IT sector.”

Beneficiaries to this MOU are both CHIETA and MICT SETA, and the SETAs’ respective stakeholders.

The key objectives of the MOU are to:

• Implement cross-sectoral skills development initiatives that deliver enterprise development in response to the Economic Recovery Plan
• Collaborate on digital transformation initiatives
• Collaborate on and implement skills development programmes in sectors that include data science, automation, artificial intelligence, and cyber security
• Scan the external environment and provide solutions to social challenges through skills development, in response to local rural and township economies
• Collaborate and promote uniformity in relation to discretionary and mandatory grant processes
• Collaborate on the development of a SETA-integrated Management Information System (MIS).

Simphiwe Thobela, MICT SETA Chairperson, highlights the need to embrace digital transformation, which he describes as the strategic organisational and operational change of an organisation through the comprehensive integration of digital technologies, processes, and skills across all functions and levels.

“The effective incorporation of digital transformation enables organisations to leverage technologies to create value, deliver new services, innovate, and adapt to the rapidly changing environment,” he says.

The MOU is fully aligned with CHIETA’s aim to be fully digitised by 2025. Khoza says, “Advanced technology is extremely important in the chemical industry, and continuous improvement and development in technology is key to the sector we serve. New technological developments also mean that CHIETA people need to be upskilled and new people recruited to ensure success in adapting to the world of 4IR.

Khoza adds, “We believe this MOU with the MICT SETA, which has set high standards in growing the pool of skills in ICT, will add real value to our SETA and the chemical industry, while also expanding the scope of MICT SETA’s services, paving the way for a SETA-integrated Management Information System (MIS), and improving cross-sectoral skills development. We look forward to working closely with the MICT SETA for the ultimate benefit of economic growth and job creation in South Africa.”

For media-related queries, interviews and images please contact Lauren Holley at  gnyathi@chieta.org.za Tel 011 628 7000.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About CHIETA
 The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) is a statutory body that was established by the Skills Development Act in 1998. CHIETA’s role in the sector, is to facilitate skills development as well as to ensure that skills needs are identified and addressed through various training initiatives in the chemical and manufacturing industries.